Arlene Dickinson is one of the stars of Canada’s Dragon’s Den television show and has been gaining a lot of notoriety because of the way she handles herself both on air and off. She is proving to the world and most especially, to women, that you can balance work and life in a manner that still allows you to be a massive success.
She is the CEO of Venture Communications, which is one of the largest marketing firms in Canada and has a net worth of over $80 million personally. In 1988 she joined the company and discovered a passion and drive for marketing and by 1998 became the sole owner of the company which she has since taken in to several countries and brings in more than $45 million a year.
One of the key struggles for most women is the balance between work and children and finding a happy medium. However, Arlene believes everyone’s decision is personal saying, “If someone feels happy and content working 70 per cent of the time and that makes her a better mom, why not?” She has also said “When you force yourself and say, ‘I can’t be the mother type’ at work and you are the mother type, then you’re trying to be something you aren’t, and you will never be really happy. “ So the lady you see on TV in Dragon’s Den is the same you’ll find at home with her kid.
Furthering her belief that you should always be yourself, Arlene feels that you should be able to show emotion and stay true to yourself in the work place. “When did emotion become a dirty word in business? You don’t do anything for anyone unless you’re emotionally connected to them.” She states during an interview.
So for all of you ladies out there, this goes to show you can achieve anything you set your mind on and be yourself while doing it in the world of business. If you happen to be interested in learning more about Arlene, please take a look at her new book, Persuasion: A New Approach to Changing Minds.
Hilary Brooks
Hilary Brooks is President, CEO of A Virtual Edge, a full-service virtual assistant company, and Owner of freelance web design company Small Biz Web Whiz. Hilary and her team offer a wide variety of services to busy entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and bloggers, providing the office and creative support they need to succeed without all the hassles of hiring a traditional employee.
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Thanks for sharing about Arlene, Hilary. She’s an inspiration on achieving work/life balance. Her book looks interesting too!